Simi Valley council frowns on proposed large Farmers building banner [Ventura County Star, Calif.]

Jan. 29--Helping to find a new tenant or tenants for the former Farmers Insurance building in Simi Valley is a top priority of the city.

Even so, a majority of the City Council indicated Monday night they are not sold on a proposal by the insurer's real estate marketer to place a 7-by-50-foot banner on top of the five-story building, announcing its availability to traffic on nearby Highway 118.

"I'm not comfortable with that humongous sign," Mayor Bob Huber said, adding that it would be an "eyesore."

While the banner would exceed the size and temporary display limits of the city's sign ordinance, the council could amend the ordinance to allow it, Economic Development Director Brian Gabler said.

But Huber and council members Glen Becerra and Keith Mashburn indicated they wouldn't support doing that. Council members Steve Sojka and Mike Judge said they would.

The council did not vote on the proposal, with Becerra saying he would like to see a rendering of the building with the banner to help him make a final decision. The council is expected to revisit the issue at a future meeting.

The 240,000-square-foot building has been empty for almost a year, when the insurer transferred the last wave of its 1,200 employees to its new Woodland Hills office 16 miles away.

The building is the largest vacant office space in Ventura County.

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